Fence.



F. J. LIGHTY.

FENCE.

APPLICATION FILED DBG.2.1908.

Wi hun Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

FRANK J'. LICHTY, OF ROCKFORD, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

FENCE.

.atented J an. 25, 1910.

Application led December 2, 1908. Serial No. 465,608.

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. Lron'rr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rockford, in the county of Mercer, State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in fences, and has forone of its objects to provide a simply arranged structure which may befolded or disposed flat-Wise upon the ground when required.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction andincrease the eiliciency and utility of structures of this character.

lVith these and other objects in View, the invention consists,generally7 in a plurality of base posts embedded in the ground at spacedintervals along the line of the fence and with an upper post bearingupon each of the base posts and hingedly united thereto and with meansfor bracing the upper post members relative to the base posts.

rlhe invention further consists in certain novel features ofconstruction as hereinafter shown and described, and then specificallypointed out in the claim, and in the drawings illustrative of thepreferred embodiment of the invention, Figure l is a front elevation ofa post constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation partly in section of the same.

The improved fence post herein shown and described is designed moreparticularly for use in cold countries where accumulations of ice andsnow are liable to occur, which frequently destroy fences, and it is theprincipal object of the invention to provide a fence post which may befolded down flatwise upon the ground together with the fence structurebefore the snow and ico season commences, so that the fence will beprotected from damage from accumulations of snow and ice, anc which maybe again erected after the cold weather has passed, and Withoutdestroying any portions of the fence or detaching any of its parts.

The improved device comprises a plurality of base posts l0 embedded inthe ground along the line of the fence and spaced apart the usualdistances, each base post having a lateral block ll extending from oneside, preferably with its upper face even with the surface of the groundindicated at l2. Bearing upon each of the base posts 10 is an upper post13, each upper post hngedly united to the base post at 14, the hingeslocated at the side opposite to the blocks ll, as shown.

Connected at l5, to each base post l0 is a rod 1G, the rods extendingupwardly and outwardly from their lower ends and bearing against theouter faces of the blocks ll and with their' upper ends directedinwardly and detaehably coupled as by bolts 17 to the upper posts 13. Bythis means, the upper posts 13 are iirmly braced and supported on oneside, while the hinges lll firmly support them on the other side.

'lhe fence structure will be fastened to the post in any suitablemanner, and any suitable :l'ence structure may be employed, but for thepurpose of illustration, strand wires 1S are shown connected to thepost.

The base posts 10 and the upper posts 13 may be of wood, metal, orconcrete, or partly of each material, and it is not desired, therefore,to limit the improvement to any specilic material for the various parts.

The improved fence is simple in construction, can be inexpensivelymanufactured, and employed in localities where fences of various kindsare required, but as above stated is more particularly adapted for usein cold climates where accumulations of snow and ice are liable tooccur.

What is claimed is:

In a fence post the combination of a base member inserted into theground, au upper member hingedly united to said base and swinging in onedirection therefrom, a block extending from said base at the sideopposite to the hinge, and a brace rod connected at its lower end tosaid base and bearing over said block, and means for detachably couplingsaid rod at its upper end to said upper member at the side opposlte tothe hinge.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK J. LICI-ITY. Witnesses B. H. Lier-rrr, R. A. FARBIG.

